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Chiefs in flap over adult-event promotion

Two Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive backs say they never consented to having their images used in the promotion of a Miami club’s party that featured appearances by porn stars.

Promotions for the event also promised an appearance by former Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas, a draftee of the Miami Dolphins who said he did not attend the party and knew nothing about his name being linked to the event.

The NFL is looking into a trademark infringement issue after images of five NFL players, including Kansas City’s Brandon Flowers and Eric Berry, appeared in uniform on fliers promoting the event.

Brandon Flowers, a Chiefs cornerback who lives in south Florida, and Berry, a second-year safety, told the Kansas City Star they did not consent to having their images used in any promotion for Exxxotica, a three-day adult-themed part at Club Play, a Miami Beach nightclub.

Berry told the Star he was not in Miami and did not attend the party. Flowers said his name and likeness were used without his permission, though he’d heard in advance that they might be.

“It was brought to my attention that the promoters at this club were planning to utilize my name and likeness,” Flowers said in a statement given to profootballtalk.com. “I immediately contacted the appropriate parties at the club and told them they had no authority to use my name or likeness and they should remove me from any promotional materials.”

Both players were pictured in their Chiefs uniform in promotional material that said they would be two of the event’s hosts.

The NFL claims the use of player photos in team uniforms is copyright infringement.

Other players whose photos were included on the fliers were Houston cornerback Kareem Jackson, Oakland wide receiver Jacoby Ford and Chicago safety Major Wright.

Thomas, drafted by the Dolphins in April, was among three players listed as “scheduled to appear” though he was not pictured on the flier that included six photos of porn stars.

“I had no knowledge of the event and did not authorize the use of my name for this party and will pursue all remedies available to me to protect the use of my name,” Thomas said in a staement. “I am a man of high ideals and am deeply saddened by what has occurred.”